Details
The 2009 vintage was preceeded by another cold, drought winter, with 399mm rainfall in Eden Valley for the year (a good year would see 500mm). It was the coldest August since 1951. Spring had a few heat spikes up into the mid to high 30s, some frost damage in low-lying areas, but very little rain during September and October. In fact, it was the driest September for 30 years and the driest October on record. Staggered flowering resulted from cool weather which reduced the fruit set. Some varieties were also pruned back hard to just a few spurs to allow them to survive with no water.
Rain arrived in mid-December with around 65mm recorded, making it the wettest month of the whole year. The cool southerlies continued through into the new year, reminiscent of 2005. December didn't record any days over 32C. January tended warm to hot with a couple of heat spikes into the high 30s and low 40s. Late January brought a record six days over 40C, not seen since 1908, causing vine stress, exacerbated by drought conditions and empty dams, followed by another week of hot weather culminating in a 46C day on Black Saturday on February 7.
Fortunately subsequent weather was mild and dry, with perfect ripening weather from March 1 moving into autumn mode. A strong change brought a general rain across the state with 10-20mm in early March, which helped with ripening and flavour development. The Indian summer in late March brought ripening forward with all the whites finished and in the winery by early April.
In the Bottle
| Vintage | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Grape Variety | 100% semillon grown in Eden Valley. |
| Technical Details | Harvest Date: 26 February-15 March Alcohol: 12% | pH: 3.09 | Acidity: 6.3 g/L | |
| Maturation | Fermented in tank and bottled post-vintage (no oak or tank maturation) to preserve the wine's fruit characteristcs. |
| Background | A tribute to Louis Edmund Henschke (1919-1990), the fourth-generation grower of the Hill of Grace vineyard. His expertise as a vigneron has resulted in a legacy in the form of the famous vineyard being maintained using long-term organic principles. The semillon is a reserve selection from vines up to 50 years old, grown in the Henschke vineyard at Eden Valley. |
| Cellaring Potential | Exceptional vintage, 10+ years |
Vintage 2009. 29 February 2012, Brisbane Times.
‘As a kid pottering around shearing sheds in the far north west in 1987, I had no idea Henschke was making a Semillon that would be an extraordinary drink 25 years later, but they did, and I shared a bottle of that wine recently. If the 2009 version simply doesn’t have the same complexity and thrall, it is simply because it needs a few more decades.’
Vintage 2009. 22 September 2010, Chris Shanahan, Canberra Times.
‘Like the Hunter style, it's tank fermented, never goes near oak and is bottled early to preserve the fruit flavour. However, it's slightly fuller than the Hunter style, with the distinct aroma and flavour of warm grown semillon somewhere between lemongrass and wet hessian. Don't be put off by the latter, though, as there's a zesty, tart, lemony tang, setting Louis apart from other wines. Would be terrific with delicate fish.’
Vintage 2008. 26 September 2011, Andrew Graham, Oz Wine Review.
‘Green, grassy, fresh style with simple lean melon fruit and just a whisper of oak/lees complexity. It's maturing rather well, putting on a little extra weight through the middle now which only adds to the attraction. A pleasant, simple white with a spoonful of style.
Vintage 2008. 3 March 2010, Fergus McGhie, Canberra Times.
Vintage 2008. 23 December 2009, Chris Plummer, Australian Wine Journal.
‘A little shy on the nose initially, the 2008 Louis opens to reveal a herbal presence of gooseberry and melon fruits with grilled nut overtones. Rather languid and rich yet fluid, its mineral infused palate announces clean and clear lemon citrus flavours, which evolve in a more savoury fashion with lingering notes of herb and a defining smoky aspect, before being punctuated beautifully by delightfully taut and regional, chalky acids.
Vintage 2007. October 2008, Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar.
‘Light, bright gold. Varietally accurate aromas of dried orchard fruit, beeswax, nuts and white flowers. Dry and focused, offering deep lemon rind and dried pear flavors and a suave mineral undercurrent. Becomes sweeter and juicier on the finish, which leaves sappy pear nectar and toasted nut qualities behind. This will be really flexible at the table.’
Vintage 2006. 2009, James Halliday, James Halliday’s Wine Companion.
‘A very attractive mix of grass, lemon juice and spice; a long minerally finish; very good balance and line’.
Vintage 2006. 12 August 2007, Sun Herald.
‘This Eden Valley semillon has wonderful fruit purity: green apples backed with mineral notes that track through the palate. It is fresh and vibrant and will cellar for 10 years.’
Vintage 2006. 25 June 2007, Winewise.
‘The fruit is clean and pure, with lemony hints, and the flavour is generous, supported by good acidity. SA semillon doesn’t come much better than this.’
Vintage 2006. 24 June 2007, Peter Forrestal, Sunday Telegraph.
Vintage 2005. August 2007, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
Abundant flavour and richness. Rating 88/100.
Vintage 2005. 31 October 2006, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
...thai lemon grass, herbal essences and oily, waxy characteristics are featured in this broad, concentrated white. This dry white may keep for many years...
Vintage 2005. 1 April 2006, Winewise
One of the best young South Australian semillons I've ever tasted. The aromas and flavours verge on tropical fruit but don't quite go that far. The result is satisfying flavour without heaviness. Likewise, there's an almost subliminal sweetness that is balanced perfectly by zippy acidity. Here's a delicious, versatile wine that is hard to resist, yet will probably reward a few years' cellaring.
Vintage 2005. 2 February 2006, Tony Harper, Courier Mail.
‘What a beautiful wine. ...it was a delight - grassy, fresh and seriously intense. It is a wine for the cellar, 10 years should be no problem, but it is delicious right now.’
Vintage 2004. 2006, Independent Magazine
‘In the hands of the Henschke family from the cool Eden Valley, this is a classy, fragrant number, full of gooseberryish fruitiness and subtly rounded out with a touch of oak, making for a restrained Graves-style whose citrus-zesty, bone dry liveliness cries out for grilled fish and white meats.’
Vintage 2004. 1 November 2005, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
‘The 2004 Louis reveals waxy citrus, candied lemon, and honey characteristics in a straightforward, elegant format. With aeration, a hint of figs also emerged.’
Vintage 2003. 1 August 2006, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2006
‘Flavoursome, soft and rounded, quite creamy, early developing style.’
Vintage 2003. 26 May 2006, Tim White, Australian Financial Review
‘Full in texture, clean in its wheat and lemon flavour, this wine hints at the complexity it should develop with age. It's soft as fresh cream...’